CHAPTER 50 - BLAKE

I sat in the stone bleachers of the arena, my body tense, eyes locked on the massive projection veil that hovered over the pit.

Beside me, Theo was fidgeting restlessly.

I resisted the urge to join him.

Here we were, safe in the stands. While somewhere out there, the woman tethered to me by blood and by fate would soon be walking headfirst into unknown dangers.

I hadn't been able to stop replaying our meeting from two nights ago in my head. The image of her standing in front of me, tossing back the vial of my blood. Maybe it was weak of me, but part of me was regretting not telling her the whole truth.

But there was no point in thinking about it now.

The Consort Games were about to begin. I'd done what I could for her. Now I just had to hope it would be enough.

The Games were not supposed to be impossible to win. For most highblood consorts, they were a test of strategy, of the consorts' ability to work together and to survive. Nothing more.

But Pendragon was going into them with a target painted on her back.

My jaw clenched, my gaze going back to the enormous semi-translucent veil projected overhead where the area's enchantment would soon begin to reveal the consorts' journeys.

Other teams would be working together, pooling their strengths. Pendragon would have to rely on her instincts–and on my blood coursing through her veins.

"Regan's been sharpening her knives for weeks now," Theo muttered beside me. "Think she has a chance?"

I knew he didn't mean Regan. He hated the woman. We both knew she was about to openly defy me. Despite the humiliation that would bring, on the one hand, Regan's defiance would play into exactly what I wanted.

On the other hand, Pendragon had a lot to lose.

I clenched my hands into fists on my knees.

The consorts would have been taken from their beds in the dead of night, drugged, and brought to a special dormitory reserved for the sole purpose of the games, located on a small island not far from Bloodwing.

Right about now, they'd be waking up. Professor Wispwood would be casting an enchantment over each one. The spell would allow everyone in the arena to see what the consorts experienced, permitting us to become spectators.

The island wasn't designed to kill. But accidents always happened. Every year, a few consorts died. Either from sheer stupidity or bad luck.

I hadn't answered Theo's question. I didn't want to admit just how worried I was. But I suspected he could sense it.

Around us, the usual crowd of highbloods and blightborn were taking their seats. I saw a number of faculty members sharing a row together. There was Rodriguez, the bastard, looking completely unconcerned as he sat down next to Professor Sankara. I knew he wanted Pendragon to get through this as badly as I did, and yet when I'd practically begged him to help me give her some kind of an advantage he'd claimed he'd already done what he could.

Some of the highbloods in the arena were consorts in their second or third year, or beyond. They'd already passed the Games. Now they were settling in to watch this one as entertainment. They had nothing to worry about. They could sit beside their co-consorts and their archons, knowing their places were secure.

Who would I be sitting beside when this was all over?

A figure striding down the rows of stone caught my attention. Vaughn Sabino. He looked as if he'd recovered well from the injuries Coregon had dealt him. I'd made some inquiries. I knew he still had a chance of making it as a scout.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Theo notice Vaughn. His whole body stiffened. He shifted away from the aisle uncomfortably as Vaughn passed.

Something in my gut twisted. I knew Theo had liked Vaughn. Before everything had gone to hell.

"Have you seen Sabino lately?" I risked asking.

Theo's eyes shot towards mine, giving me a black look that could have melted stone. "Why? You going to report me to dear Uncle Viktor?"

I frowned. "Theo, I didn't... Is that really what you think?"

"Don't bother," he snapped. "I doubt Vaughn ever wants to talk to me again after what he went through. Wasn't that the entire fucking point?"

"I didn't tell Coregon to do what he did," I said, lowering my voice.

"The Prince of the Blessed Blood doth protest too much. But, sure. Whatever you say, old boy," Theo said tightly. I wasn't sure he believed me but I was also getting sick of denying his accusations. "I was supposed to learn my lesson, right? Like a good little boy. Stay away from the bad blightborn boy forever. Or was it all males in general?" His lips twisted cruelly, distorting his normally easygoing features in a way I hated to see. "Don't worry. You and Coregon made sure of that."

Guilt hit me square in the chest. I hadn't known what Coregon was going to do. But I sure hadn't warned Theo about any of it when I'd had the chance. Viktor had made it clear that Theo's dalliances with other males were not going to be tolerated within our house.

"I suppose I should just be grateful Coregon didn't punish me, too. Is that it?" Theo said, half-snarling, half-hissing the words. "Should I be grateful, Blake?"

"He wouldn't have fucking dared," I said automatically.

"So you'd protect me, is that it? But not someone like Vaughn?"

"I had no idea what was going to happen to Sabino. I swear," I growled. "Coregon stepped out of line. He's gone now, isn't he? But if you expect me to protect every man you get a crush on..."

I was being cruel. Cruel and unfair. And I knew it.

I saw Theo flinch.

"Don't worry," he said coolly. "Do you really think I'd risk stealing some happiness for myself if it could result in another person's disfigurement, dismemberment, or decapitation? I'm not that shallow. No, I'll just follow your example and be fucking miserable doing whatever Uncle Viktor tells us to do. Isn't that your great plan?"

"I didn't ask for any of this," I said, my voice low. "I fucking hate this." But I didn't dare to say more. Afraid I might give away some truths with my lies.

Theo looked away, his jaw tight. "Just leave it, Blake. It's done." His voice sounded tired. He slouched back on the bench.

I tried to settle back into my seat, but my mind was churning with thoughts of Pendragon and now Theo. A light touch on my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts.

"House Leader?"

I looked up to see Lucian Aleron standing over me. Visha Vaidya's archon wore a sleek black tunic embroidered with red thread, its billowing sleeves cuffed just below his wrists. His long, pale blond hair was tied in a tail at the nape of his neck with a black ribbon. Silver rings glittered on his slender fingers.

Lucian was polished, I'd give him that. But there was something pompous about him that had always grated on my nerves. He liked to play the role of archon to perfection. Lucian wasn't a fool, but he lacked Visha's steel.

Lucian's other consort, Evander Sylvain, was out there on the island with Visha right now. Lithe and tall, he had delicate features that gave him an androgynous look. Lacking Visha's fierceness and Lucian's ingratiating ambition, Evander was softer, more introspective, lacking the typical highblood ruthlessness. The best quality he brought to his triad was loyalty–to Lucian, to Visha, and to House Drakharrow–and thus, by extension, to me.

The irony of it all wasn't lost on me. Lucian and Evander were generally believed to be a love match. Lucian's father had approved the union, with the condition that Visha be added in to strengthen the pair.

In contrast, there was no way in hell Theo would be permitted to select male consorts.

But our uncle's prejudices remained mostly hidden from other highbloods for now, even within House Drakharrow. The key words being "for now." I had no doubt he'd try to extend his reach as soon as he dared.

I thought of Visha and the task I'd assigned her. I trusted her to be ruthless, to do what was needed. Lucian and Evander lacked her fire. Eventually, Visha would control both of them easily, whether she was their official archon or not.

I looked back at Lucian, wondering what had brought him here.

He smiled at me, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes. "I thought you'd want to know. Before the consorts were taken, Regan Pansera formally requested that the Crown of Bone be used on Medra Pendragon before the Games began."

My blood began to boil. I started to spring up from my seat. Theo's hand held me down.

"Steady, cuz," he warned. "Don't make a scene."

He knew what this meant. So did Lucian.

But Lucian didn't need to see how much the idea of Pendragon being under threat bothered me. Let him think I was simply furious at Regan's defiance.

Still, I couldn't hold back a growl. "How did this happen?" I demanded.

Lucian took a cautious step back. "She's of dragon rider blood and a blightborn no less. Regan's argument was compelling–and valid as far as I could tell." He dropped his voice. "I happened to be near the Headmaster's office."

He'd eavesdropped in other words. But I didn't care how he'd found out.

"Thank you for informing me," I said stiffly. "Good luck to you and your consorts in the games."

He nodded. "The same to you, Drakharrow. Just thought you'd want to know."

My jaw clenched but I forced myself to sit on the bench and feign calm.

I glanced at Theo. I knew he liked Pendragon. We both knew what the Crown of Bone meant for her.

Crafted from ancient dragon bones, the crown was rarely used and usually had to be requested by a consort's archon. It was an artifact reserved for testing the loyalty of consorts who were chosen from blightborn bloodlines.

The crown could peer into a blightborn's mind, forcing them to confront their deepest loyalties and fears. It would make them select someone from their lives–someone they cared about. Only a blightborn would be chosen, of course. The consort wouldn't even realize what they'd done. The decision would be unconscious and by the time they figured out what had happened, it would be too late.

I ran a hand over my face, as if trying to wipe away the worry I felt. No one could see, no one could know how much this was all getting to me.

The crown might destroy Pendragon. And Regan, that venomous bitch, had known exactly what she was doing when she'd requested it be used.

But there was absolutely no way I could stop it now.

Approximately six hours from now and this would all be over. I was betting on Pendragon being a survivor. What didn't kill her would make her stronger. Right?